Thread: Professional Barber Shaves-Squawkbox

OK so your cousins, brothers, uncles, best friends, stepson twice removed told you to go down to the cheaten side of town to Honest Joe's barbershop to get the best shave in the whole universe. You did and now your face looks like its been through a salad shooter.

This is the place to tell us all about your experiences good or bad so we can either learn from your mistake or profit from it. I know it ain't the shave forum but it ain't exactly about you shaving yourself so I'm giving myself some latitude here.

I visited a local barbershop in my area that I heard about on another shaving forum that will go un-named. The barbershop is called "V's Barbershop" and it is located on the SE corner of 75th Avenue and Bell Road in Glendale, Arizona.

Now, I must confess that I have not yet experienced one of their shaves, but I will say that the people who run the place were very nice to me and gave me the tour.

One of the barbers showed me all of the products that they used and let me sample some. I met the owner and she was a very nice lady.

They seem reasonably priced, my only other experience was a straight shave at Truefitt and Hill in Las Vegas. So this local barber seemed to have shaves, haircuts that fit my budget much nicer.

They even have a billiard table if you are waiting.

I purchased a discounted AOS starter kit for $19, heck the brush alone is worth more than that!

I told the barber and owner that I belonged to this forum and they seemed quite interested.

I promise to provide a more in depth review once I experience one of thier shaves.

Justy my two cents...

I went and got a shave by the "Master Barber" at Barbershop Lounge in Boston (on Newbury). At $30 I was less than impressed. I left with stubble on my face...I could have shaved closer with my electric (which I did upon returning home). However the pre-shave and the warm towel were great but given the quality of the shave I was quite disappointed, particularly since it was crazy expensive. The barber was nice, the complimentary coffee and use of the pool table were also nice, but again I was paying to have a shave...

She used a Shavette with a blade whose brand I can't remember now...anyway net net wouldn't go here for a shave. Maybe for a haircut if I was old and had money to blow.

I've got a new barber who's actually right across the road from me in Montreal. He does my sideburns and neck with a shavette. I asked why he used the shavette as opposed to an 'old fashioned' straight razor. He said it's just easier (no maintenance), more consistent and cheaper. He also uses a lather machine that dispenses warm lather.

I asked him what the secret was to a good shave and he held out his hand and said, "Les bons mains."

I haven't had a full shave from him, but the touching up he does is effective and irritation-free.

Originally Posted by Swink

I've got a new barber who's actually right across the road from me in Montreal. He does my sideburns and neck with a shavette. I asked why he used the shavette as opposed to an 'old fashioned' straight razor. He said it's just easier (no maintenance), more consistent and cheaper. He also uses a lather machine that dispenses warm lather.

I asked him what the secret was to a good shave and he held out his hand and said, "Les bons mains."

I haven't had a full shave from him, but the touching up he does is effective and irritation-free.

Most places in the states require the use of a shavette due to sanitary reasons. With HIV and hepatitis C roaming, they don't take chances. The few places in my local area will use a straight on you if it's your razor. As much as I have thought about getting a barber shave, I just enjoy shaving myself much more.

My barber in Queens has shaved me several times. They use a shavette but when they shave me I can go 2 days without a touchup. Best of all $8.25 and they are celebrating their 50th year in their shop this May. Not fancy but a quality shave....

PS they finish you off with Pinaud Lilac Vegital. Now if that isn't old time barbers I don't know what is...lol

well, as ive commented before, all the local barbers have recently switched over to "feather" style razors or disposable bics.
they havent changed there prices either. still 30$ plus tip for the whole deal.
Needless to say thats how i found myself here

I travel to El Paso, TX quite often and found a third generation barber (his son was cutting hair there too, so he is fourth generation) who did a great job. He also used a shavette and finished with a quad; however, I feel like you pay for the experience and the pampering. He went thorough the whole routine with the hot towels, hot lather, etc., and I was BBS when he finished. It took a good half hour and I paid him $15 including tip! I'll be back in El Paso next week and plan on stopping by for a shave again. His fourth generation son does not do shaves, and it's getting harder and harder find barbers that do. My dad has been a barber for almost 50 years and he stopped longer ago than I can remember. He still does the back of the neck thing, but that's it.

Tod

Just came back from a shave at a barbershop here in Linköping, Sweden.
Nice shave, a littlebit of irritation on the neck, but not more then when I shave myself. A close shave but I have had closer. Overall a very nice experience with towels and all, he used a shavette. Talked quite alot about straightshaving with the old barber. And got rid of two weeks worth of growth...=)

Välkommen till Dennis Barbershop
Click on "Se dig omkring" for pics of the barbershop.


//Victor

I am curios as to where this guy is in Queens. I am right over the bridge in the Bronx and may contemplate checking him out...


Thanks!